Around the nation & world

From wire reports

March 3, 2013

PAKISTAN

45 killed in blast at mosque

ISLAMABAD - A powerful car bomb exploded Sunday, ripping through a crowd of Shiites as they left a mosque in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and killing at least 45 people. It was the latest atrocity in an escalating campaign of countrywide sectarian violence.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blast, which badly damaged two apartment blocks and spread fire through homes and shops. At least 149 people were wounded, officials said.

EGYPT

Morsi rewarded with $250 million in aid from U.S.

CAIRO - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday rewarded Egypt for President Mohammed Morsi's pledges of political and economic reforms by releasing $250 million in American aid to support the country's "future as a democracy."

Yet Kerry also served notice that the Obama administration will keep close watch on how Morsi, who came to power in June as Egypt's first freely elected president, honors his commitment and that additional U.S. assistance would depend on it.

MALI

Terrorist's death not confirmed, Chad official says

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DAKAR, Senegal - The general commanding troops from Chad in a French-Chadian anti-terrorist operation in northern Mali said Sunday that he could not yet confirm the death of a principal Islamist leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a day after his government announced it on Chad's national television.

"It's still conditional," said Gen. Oumar Bikomo, speaking from the mountainous area of northern Mali.

FLORIDA

House perched over sinkhole partially razed

SEFFNER - Crews on Sunday razed more than half of the Tampa-area home perched over a huge sinkhole that swallowed a man three days ago, managing to salvage some keepsakes for family members who lived there.

Jeff Bush vanished when the earth opened up and swallowed him Thursday night.